North State in brief: June 1, 2016

Felon accused of pointing shotgun

A Redding man was arrested for allegedly using a sawed-off shotgun to settle an argument over who owns a bicycle.

Angelica Marie Murphy, 21, of Redding reported to police Monday that she got into an argument with two people over the ownership of a bicycle at Library Park in downtown Redding.

During the argument a man produced a sawed-off shotgun and brandished it at Murphy, police said. The man fled before police arrived.

Later that day Redding police officer Ryan O'Hern saw a suspect in South City Park that matched the description given by Murphy.

When O'Hern stopped him, the man, identified as Cory Thomas Romans, 22, had a sawed-off shotgun on him, police said.

Romans, a convicted felon on probation for burglary, was arrested on suspicion of brandishing a firearm, criminal threats and numerous weapons violations.

I-5 lanes closed after truck fire

Northbound lanes of Interstate 5 were closed for much of the day Tuesday after a truck hauling hay caught fire on the freeway north of Lake Shasta, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The fire was reported around 10:10 a.m. near Castella, according to the CHP's website. The fire caused no injuries, the CHP said.

Traffic was backed up about 6 miles and was being rerouted at Castella and then back on to the freeway at Soda Creek, the CHP said.

Castella is about 10 miles south of Dunsmuir.

Road work on Ashby Road planned

Ashby Road in Shasta Lake will get long overdue improvements starting next week.

Crews will work on the road June 6 through July 15 from Shasta Dam Boulevard to Pine Grove Avenue.

There will be controlled traffic and detours in place. Motorists should expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

Ashby Road is one of the main thoroughfares in Shasta Lake. It is one of the main access roads to Central Valley High School and a Sierra Pacific Industries operation. Residents know it as a road pocked by potholes and rough asphalt.

Man arrested after dispute

A Shasta Lake man was taken into custody at gunpoint Tuesday afternoon at a gas station off Twin View Boulevard in Redding after law enforcement officers said he matched the description of a suspect involved in a possible shooting in Shasta Lake.

Shasta County Sheriff's Lt. Pat Kropholler said later, however, that reports of a shooting were unfounded, but said it appears the man was involved in a domestic dispute.

A gun was not found in the man's car.

The man, who was not identified, was taken by sheriff's officials to an area hospital for a mental evaluation, Kropholler said, adding that a relative said he had been making suicidal statements.

Law enforcement had been searching for a suspect in connection to a report of shots fired in Shasta Lake and were told the suspect was heading to the area of Twin View Boulevard, according to emergency dispatch reports.

Trial date set in minor sex case

An Aug. 30 trial date was set Tuesday in Shasta County Superior Court for a 33-year-old Morro Bay man accused of having sex with a 15-year-old Redding girl he met through an online PlayStation video game.

Anthony Ames Elmendorf,who remains in Shasta County Jail in lieu of $550,000 bail, was ordered in March to stand trial on eight felony counts, including unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, lewd acts and contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sexual offense.